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ALBANY  INSTITUTE 
First  Annual  Report • 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/firstannualreporOOalbaiala 


FIRST 
ANNUAL  REPORT 


oy  THE 


<^ 


PRESENTED  JULY  J,  1825. 


Oi^ceTS  oi  the  Institute. 


'.].  STEPHEN  VAN  RENSSELAER,  President, 

SIJVIEON  DE  WITT,  President  of  the  1st  Department,  i     -.      «  • 

EWSHA  JENKINS,       Do.     of  the  2d,  >  Vice-truSentt. 

JOHN  CHESTER,  Do.      of  the  3d,  ^ 

WILLIAM  MAYELL,  Treasurer. 

PETER  GANSEVOORT,         i 

MATTHEW  H.  WEBSTER,  >  Corresponding  Secretaries. 

FREDERICK  MATTHEWS,  J 

HFiVRV  w  QivYDirn.         ^ 

JOSEPH  P.  MOTT,  >  Recording  Secretaries. 

RICHARD  V.  DE  WITT,  J 

HENRY  W.  SNYDER,  Librarian. 
Llrwre  C.  BECK, 
MATTHEW  H.  WEBSTER, 
RICHARD  V.  DE  WITT,        >  Curators. 
WILLIAM  COOPER, 
J08BPH  BEHBY: 


TO  THS  rVBLZC. 


The  Albany  Institute  was  organized  in  May, 
1824.  Its  object  is  the  promotion  of  Science  and 
Learning,  and  it  is  divided  into  three  Departments. 
1st.  The  Department  of  Mathematical  and  Physical 
Science  and  the  Arts.  This  consists  of  the  former 
Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Useful  Arts.  2d. 
The  Department  of  Natural  History,  comprising  the 
Albany  Lyceum  of  Natural  History.     These  two 

Societiae      formod    a    union    u.i.    ilie    time    mentioned 

above,  contemplating  and  originating  also,  a  3d  De- 
partment, viz.  that  of  History  and  general  Litera- 
ture. The  last  has  just  been  organized,  and  arrange- 
ments are  making  for  its  going  into  full  operation  dur- 
ing the  ensuing  winter. 

The  Institute  holds  its  regular  meetiugs  every  fort- 
night during  the  first  four  months  of  the  year.  Its 
proceedings  for  1824-5,  will  be  seen  in  the  following 
pages. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1825,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chester, 
one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  delivered  the  Annual 
Address  before  the  Institute.  It  is  matter  of  regret 
to  the  members,  that  its  publication  is  not  permit- 
ted, as  it  contains  an  ample  and  able  account  of  the 
objects  of  the  Society.  The  subject  of  the  Address 
was  the  intimate  union  that  exists  between  the  pro- 
motion of  Religion,  and  of  Science  and  Learning,  and 
the  duty  of  all  as  Christians  and  Patriots,  to  promote 
these  important  objects.  A  debt  of  gratituile  is  just- 
ly due  to  the  orator  for  his  kindness  in  coming  for- 
ward as  the  advocate  and  friend  of  the  Institute.   . 

The  Committee  do  not  conceive  it  necessary  to  en- 
large on  the  utility  of  such  a  Society  to  the  Literary 
and  Scientific  character  of  the  City.  In  the  ensuing 
Report  it  will  be  seen,  that  the  members  have  given 
a  pledge,  if  not  of  their  ability,  at  least  of  their  Wil 
lingness,  to  produce  the  desired  cfl*cct. 


UCSB    LIBRARJ 


KETOB.'t. 

The  Committee  appoiDted  to  prepare  a  detailed 
Report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Albany  Institute 
since  its  formation  in  May,  1824 — to  examine  the 
Museum  and  I  abrary,  and  to  report  the  additions 
made  thereto — and  to  enquire  into  the  Funds  and 
Expenditures  of  the  respective  Departments  and  the 
Institute^ 

Report, 

That  in  compliance  with  the  duty  assigned  to  them, 

and  Library  of  the  Institute,  and  are  now  enabled  to 
present  the  following  detailed  account  of  each.  And 
first^  as  to  the 

MVSEVM. 

It  appears  from  an  examination  of  the  Catalogue,  made 
and  certified  by  the  Curators  and  Joint  Committee  of  the 
Society  of  Arts  and  Lyceum  (now  the  1st  and  2d  Depart- 
ments,) in  obedience  to  the  directions  of  one  of  the  articles 
of  union,  that  the  Museum  at  the  period  of  the  formation  of 
the  Institute,  consisted  of  the  following  articles  : 

1329  Mineraloffical  )     ..^  ,,  j.     p^,    ,  ^  n 

Specimens,  of       i     3  6  were  the  property  of  the  1st  Dep. 
which  S   ^^^^  property  ot  the  2d  Dep. 

349  Geological  Spe- )       ..       ,   ,       .      ^    ^     ,  *  t» 
cimens,  (Ora-anic     i     A^       belonging  to  the  1st  Dep. 
Remains  excepted.)  )    "^^  to  the  2d  Dep. 

132  Specimens  of    )  33     belonging  to  the  1st  Dep. 

Organic  Remains.  5  99  to  the  2d  Dep. 

43  Zoological  Spe-  7         1  belonged  to  the  1st  Dep. 

cimens,  of  which    f  42  to  the  2d  Dep. 

A  Botanical  Collection,   the  extent  uf    which  from  Its  flOt 

having  been  arranged,  we  are  unable  to  state,  but  which  has 
been  preserved  peifectly  distinct  from  the  additions  made  to 
It  smce  the  formation  of  the  Institute.  This  is  the  prop- 
erty  of  the  2d  Department.    Lastly, 

9  Specimens  arranged  under  the  head  of  the  Arts,  and 

5  Specimens  under  the  head  of  Miscellaneous. 

The  total  amount  of  Specimens  (excluding  the  Botanical        -^ 
Collection,)  was  therefore,  at  the  period  of  the  formation  of 
the  Institute,  1867. 

The  Collection  at  tlie  date  of  the  present  report,  com- 
prises, 


1418  Mineralogtcal  Specimens. 
S94  Geological  Specimens,  (Organic  Rem.  not  included.) 
235  Specimens  of  Organic  Remains. 
381  Zoological  Specimens. 
The  Botanical  Collections. 
26  Specimens  arranged  under  the  head  of  Arts. 
13  Specimens  arranged  under  the  head  of  Miscellaneous. 
45  Silver  Coins 

1  Black  Lead  Coin. 
279  Copper  Coins. 
5  Specimens  of  Paper  Money,  issued  during  the  Revo- 
lution, &c. 
The  to«»i  Am^'uui  uCiitvao  ic  zTST,  aiiU  It  will  (iius  be  per- 
ceived that  the  additions  made  to  the  Museum  since  May^ 
1824,  are  930  in  number,  viz. 

89  Mineralogical  Spe-  >   69  are  Donations  to  the  Institute, 
cimens,  of  which       J   20  to  the  2d  Dep. 

45  Geological  Speci-   >    19  to  the  Institute, 

mens.  S   26  to  the  2d  Dep. 

103  Specimens  of  Or-    >  102  to  the  Institute, 

ganic  Remains.        J     1  to  the  2d  Dep. 

338  Zoological  Speci-  )  26r  to  the  Institute, 

mens.  5  71  to  the  2d  Dep. 

Several  Collections  of  Plants. 

^8  ipecimeSs'  Miscellaneous.    }  institute. 

The  Coins  and  Paper  Money  of  every  description,  (330) 
are  either  donations  or  deposits  for  the  Institute. 

It  is  also  proper  to  add,  that  the  number  of  Specimens  ac- 
tually presented,  exceeds  that  given  above,  particularly  in 
the  Classes  of  Mineralogy  and  Geology.  These,  however, 
are  to  be  considered  as  duplicate  or  undetermined  Speci- 
mens, and  are  carefully  preserved  by  the  Curators  in  a 
separate  case  for  fufthflr  investigation  or  exchange. 

The  collections  specified  above,  are  arranged  in  14  cases, 
with  numbers  attached  to  each  Specimen.  A  proper  blank 
hook  was  procured,  in  which  the  name,  locality,  name  of 
the  donor,  &c  of  every  article  presented  to  the  Institute,  or 
either  of  the  Departments,  or  deposited  in  the  Museum,  is 
immediately  entered  according  to  the  date  of  the  donation 
or  deposit.  From  this,  it  is  entered  under  its  proper  head 
in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Museum,  which  is  contained  in  two 
quarto  volumes,  to  which  the  number  on  the  different  Spe- 
cimens refers.  In  this  also,  the  name,  locality,  or  history  of 
the  article,  and  the  name  of  the  donor,  are  specified. 


The  Committee  conclude  this  part  of  their  report  by  stal- 
ing, that  all  the  articles  in  the  Museum  are  arranged  in 
regular  order,  and  lja\  e  been  carefully  preserved.  But  one 
Spec  imen  has  been  lost  during  the  last  year,  viz.  a  bottle 
containing  a  Mineral  Water  from  the  western  part  of  the 
State.  This  was  destroyed  by  the  intense  frost  of  the 
winter. 

The  Botanical  Collection  needs  arranging,  and  the  Com- 
mittee are  enabled  to  state,  that  this  will  probably  be  accom- 
plished within  a  short  period,  by  one  of  the  Curators,  who 
has  charged  himself  with  this  labour. 

It  is  respectfully  suggested,  whether  a  tablet  containing 
the  names  of  the  donors  to  the  Institute  and  placed  in  some 
conspicuous  part  of  the  room,  would  not  be  proper.    This 

is  don«  hy  Konao   S#u-Jpf»*»o,    a.. J    it  Jo  ooctainiy  a  ti'ibute  fluC 

to  such  as  favour  the  cause  of  Science  and  Literature.     As 
to  the 

XXBRAXlir. 

From  the  Catalogue  made  and  certified  at  the  formation 
of  the  Institute,  it  appears  that  the  Library  consisted  of  S29 
volumes,  of  which 

277  are  the  property  of  the  1st  Department. 
52  (including  pamphlets)  of  the  2d  Department. 

The  Library  now  consists  of  345  volumes,  being  an  ad- 
dition of  16  volumes, 
of  which  5  belong  to  the  Institute. 

8  to  the  1st  Department. 

S  to  the  2d  Department.  rf^ 

Also  6  pamphlets,  of  which  3  were  presented  to  the  InstifutcT 
2  to  the  1st  Department,  and  one  to  the  2d. 

The  Periodical  Works  taken  by  the  different  Depart- 
ments arc,  The  Annals  of  Philosophy,  l'l»e  Repertory  of 
Arts,  and  Silliman's  Journal.  The  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences,  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  New- York  Lyceum  of 
Natural  History  forward  their  rpspective  publications  to  the 
Insiilute. 

The  Committee  have  now  the  pleasure  of  mentioning  the 
names  of  donors  to  the  Institute,  or  its  Departments  since 
May  last.  They  are  the  following  Societies  and  individu- 
als---Thc  American  Philosophical  Society.  The  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia.  The  New- York  Lyceum 
of  Natural  History.  The  Hon.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
President  of  the  Institute.  His  Excellency,  Governor  Clin- 
ton, Simeon  De  Witt,  John  R.  Bleecker,  £benezer  Bald- 
win, William  Basset  of  Syracuse,  Caleb  N.  Bement,  Lewis 
C.  Beck,  Barent  S.  Boyd,  Stephen  V.  R.  Bleecker,  T.  Ro- 
mQyn  Beck,  Lt.  Birdsall,  U.  S.  Army,   William   Cooper. 


6 

flames E.  Dekay  of  New- York,  Richard  V.  De  Witt,  Vol- 
kert  P.  Douw,  James  Eights,  John  Finch  of  Philadelphia^ 
Peter  Gansevoort,  Edmund  C.  Genet,  Joseph  Henry,  Peter 
S.  Henry,  James  Hadley  of  Fairfield,  John  James,  Samuel 
M.  Lock\vood,of  Ohio,  Henry  J.  Linn,  William  Mayell,  John 
Meads,  Thomas  Mather,  Frederick  Matthews,  Uuncan  Mc- 
Kercher,  Benjamin  Knower,  P.  Kelly,  James  M'Auley,  of 
Herkimer,  Orlando  Meads,  James  M'Naughton,  Joseph  P. 
Mott,  Elisha  Putnam,  John  S.  Phillips,  of  Philadelphia, 
Henry  W.  Snyder,  Hezekiah  Skinner,  Peter  S.  Townsend, 
ofNew-Providence,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  Jun.  Solomon 
Van  Rensselaer.  Charles  R.  Webster,  Peter  Wendell,  Hor- 
ace Webster,  of  West- Point,  Elkanah  Watson,  Matthew  H. 
Webster,  Ashbel  S.   Webster,  Richard  Webster,  Samuel 

Wcbotcr. 

The  following  communications  have  been  read  before  the 
Institute. 

1.  On  Trilobites,  with  an  account  of  the  Specimens  belong- 
ing to  that  class,  now  in  the  Museum  of  the  Institute, 
by  T.  Romeyn  Beck. 

2.  On  the  process  of  Hat  Making,  by  Wlm.  Mayell. 

5.  Notices  of  the  Testudo  Ferox,  by  the  Hon.  De  Witt 
Clinton  and  James  E.  Dekay ^  M.  D.  of  New- York,  illus- 
trative of  a  living  Specimen,  in  the  possession  of  the 
Institute,  from  Cayuga  Lake,  presented  by  Richard  V. 
De  Witt. 

4.  A  notice  of  the  Nitrate  of  Soda,  found  in  South  Ameri- 
ca, (with  a  specimen,)  by  T.  R.  Beck. 

5.  Extract  fiom  a  report  on  the  diseases  of  Elm  Trees  in 
St.  James  Park,  London,  by  Win.  Macleay,    Selected. 

6.  On  the  Chemical  and  Mechanical  effects  of  Steam,  illus- 
trated with  experiments  on  the  model  of  a  Steam  En- 
gine, loaned  to  the  Institute,  by  George  Birkbeck,  of 
New- York,  by  Joseph  Henry. 

7.  On  the  History  of  Steam  Engines,  ilhistrated  by  draw- 
ings of  varinnsinvenrioMs,  by  Hinhnyi]  Y  ne  Wiff- 

8.  On  the  Mode  of  manufacturing  Paper,  by  Maithetv  H. 
Webster. 

9.  On  Lead  and  Lead  Mines,  including  a  minute  account 
of  the  Lead  Mines  in  the  western  part  of  the  United 
States,  read  at  four  different  meetings,  by  Lewis  C. 
Beck. 

10.  On  ihe  manner  of  preventing  the  evaporation  of  Spirits 
from  preparations,  by  John  Shatv.    Selected, 

11.  A  Translation  of  the  2d  Chapter  of  Brogniart  on  Trilo- 
bites, by  Matthew  H,  Webster. 


■%^ 


ii2.  Description  of  tlic  Unio  Crassus,  variety  Gigauteus— 
from  the  Illinois  River,  by  Matthew  U.  fVebsier. 

15.  Mr.  Waterton's  method  of  preserving  Specimens  in  Na- 
tural History.    Selected. 

14.  On  the  nature  and  properties  of  Potassium,  with  experi- 
ments, by  T.  Romeyn  Beck. 

15.  A  description  of  the  Hystrix  Oorsata,  or  North  Ameri- 
can Porcupine,  with  observations  on  its  habits,  illustra- 
tive of  a  Specimen  in  the  Museum,  by  M.  H.  Webster. 

16.  A  Topographical  account,  with  an  Analysis,  of  the  bitu- 
minous Coal  lately  found  at  Tioga,  (Pennsylvania,)  by 
T.  Romeyn  Beck. 

ir.'*On  the  Functions  of  the  Moon,   as  deduced  from  the 

total    HiClipse    of  the  Sun,    ""  tUa    letU  of   Juno,    1806, 

with  a  Drawing,  by  Simeon  De  Witt. 

18.  On  Manganese  and  its  application  in  the  Arts,  by  Dun- 
can McKercher. 

19.  On  the  production  of  Cold,  by  the  rarefaction  of  Air, 
with  experiments,  by  Joseph  Henry. 

20.  An  historical  account  of  the  Literary  Institutions  in  the 
United  States,  by  Frederick  Matthews. 

21.  Catalogue  of  Plants  growing  in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson, 
(N.  Y.)  by  Cyrus  M.  Stebhins. 

22.  On  the  application  of  Soap  Alumina,  to  the  manufacture 
oi"a  water  proof  Blacking,  by  Simeon  De  Witt. 

25.  On  the  application  of  Steam  to  the  JEvial  Navigation  of 
Balloons,  by  Edmund  C.  Genet. 

24.  On  the  variation  of  the  xMagnetic  Needle,  with  tables  of 
its  variation  at  Boston,  Falmouth  and  Penobscot,  from 
1672  to  1800,  drawn  up  by  Professor  Winthrop,  of  Har- 
vard University,  communicated  with  remarks  on  the 
same,  by  Simeon  De  Witt. 

:15.  An  account  of  the  Salt  Springs  at   Onondaga,   with  an 
.  ^alysis  of  the  Salt  made   there  by  various  processes, 
and  also  of  the  Residua,  by  Lexvis  C.  Bed:. 
j^ie.=Aii  analysis  Of  f  cciia   Sulphate  of  Barytes,  found  at 
.^^#7  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.  by  Joseiik  Henry. 

9.7.  On  the  purification  of  Alcohol,  with  experiments,  by 
Lewis  C.  Beck. 

28.  An  account  of  Professor  Dobcreiner*s  experiment  of 
the  Ignition  of  Platina  Sponge,  by  a  jet  of  Hydrogen, 
with  the  experiment,  by  Joseph  Henry. 

Nos.  2,3,4,  10,11,12,13,  15,16,  18,21,22,23,24,  are 
in  the  hands  of  the  Secretaries—the  remainder  in  the 
possession  of  the  persons  who  communicated  them. 
From  tlte  statement  now  presented,  an  opinion  may  be 


^n  drawn,  whether  the  hopes  or  the  Icuis  cnteitiiitiiid  atMhc 
^^commencement  of  the  Institute  have  been  realized.  Tht 
,  Committee  are  sanguine  in  the  belief  of  its  increasin^^  Utili- 
ty, and  they  trust  that  the  efforts  made  during  the  prcjsent 
year,  under  circumstances  of  s«rae  embarrassment,  niay'-iead 
to  renewed  and  increasing  exertion.  It  deserves  meiition 
and  ndtire.  that  the  Library  has  not  increased  propoi'tion- 
ably  with  the  Museum.  Tlie  reasons  of  this  have  been  vsuf- 
ficiently  discussed,  and  indeed  are  so  obviuas,  that  the  Com- 
mittee will  not  enlarge  on  them.  -; 

Whether  another  year  shall  witness  our  increasing  pros- 
perity, must  depend  on  the  industry  of  our  members  and  the 
patronage  of  our  fellow  citizens.  Could  the  latter  be  indu- 
ced more  generally  to  foster  and  aid  this  institution,  a  Mu- 
seun»  and  a  Libi-arv  misht  in  a  fc w  years  03  ror^»vwlj  tha* 
would  be  alike  honourable  to  the  Society  and  the  City, 

The  number  of  actual  Members  of  the  Institute  is  small — 
being  about  20  in  the  First  Department,  and  38  in  the  Sec- 
ond Department.  The  Third  Department  is  at  present  or- 
ganized under  ciiTumstances  of  considerable  promise,  but 
no  calculation  ran  of  courae  be  made  as  to  the  number  of  its 
Members.  And  it  will  readily  be  observed,  that  the  annual 
pay  aents  derived  from  less  than  sixty  individuals,  are  far 
from  furnishing  the  necessary  sums  required  inaS«^ety 
like  ours.  In  the  Second  Department,  the  donations  to  it 
have  come  in  so  rapidly,  that  a  debt  has  been  incurred  lor 
cases,  while  in  the  First  Department  several  unsettled' de- 
mands also  remain.  The  gross  amount  however  of  a1f:theso 
is  not  large  and  could  be  liquidated  in  a  very'slKM^t-  ^liiie, 
were  a  more  general  desire  entertained  for  joining  the  in- 
stitution. .     •  '    . 

The  Committee  conclude  their  i-eport,  by  expressinaJiieir 
sanguine  anticipations  of  the  cff-.rts  of  the  Third  or  tiWlliirt- 
cal  and  Literary  Department.  The  recortis  of  this  /wieftat 
city,  the  numerous  historical  imidents  connected  with  *ts 
progress  and  growth,  an<l  the  general  subjects  of  imppr* 
embraced  within  the  scope  of  the  Society,  all  present  a 
of  interest  equal  to  jiihosc  i»i'aiiy.  other  io.our;  Sl;*te. 

Donattens tor  ni«'  ln4tHat8,yece\*ca  sinv.»-  «.ao  ^la.iA'P.t'^orX  v      . 

Jin  elegant  Sioux  Pipe,  J^-  \-^^     , 

^  Canadian  Copper.  Com,  \v.  nrzjj 

Cloth  made  from  the  Bark  of  a  Tret  la  the  Sandwich 

Islands,  and  worn  by  the  natives,  .'  ^     ' 

A  Map  of  the  State  ofKew-York^  ^  ^-'^'''^.  ,^"  ' 

AMap  of  the  City  of  Albany,  ,  ,      f  V  iV    ^ 

Sundry  Indian  OrnanUnU  used  by  tht  PoltawaltaimSf     •  ^    ^^^'Vi    u.'» 
Ikdian  Tomahawk,        •  •    -..    r    r>.:ivf-ri    '^^  JT-^' Vw^./i  .'^ 

:'lMapcfth,^CityofmwYark,m7,  .   '     .S^?JL 

/I  Specimen  ^fCUtuda.    Albany,  G.&eeiy. 

T.  ROME YN  BECK,      V 
M.  HENRY  WEBSTEB,  1  <\ 

JAMES  EIGHTS,  )  CcmmtU^ 

JOSEPH  HENRY,  I 

WILLIAM  COOPER-       ' 


076  948     7 


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